Hawks tempt Magpie with vision of being their ruck Lynch-pin
HAWTHORN has lured Max Lynch out of Collingwood with the possibility of him becoming the club’s No.1 ruckman.
Lynch, who remains out of contract, has requested a trade to Hawthorn after being on the its radar for at least a year.
It’s the first piece of the ruck puzzle, with veteran Hawk Jon Ceglar poised to cross to Geelong – including Hawthorn paying some of his remaining contract next year – as Brisbane brokers a trade for Cat Darcy Fort.
They could end up all being involved in the same four-club deal.
Lynch’s decision comes despite Collingwood football boss Graham Wright telling him before the season ended that he wanted to re-sign him, to join fellow ruckmen Brodie Grundy and Darcy Cameron.
“We’d like to keep him, to be honest, but what we discussed was him actually looking to explore the opportunity to be a first ruck somewhere,” Wright told 3AW.
“Hawthorn has said that opportunity may present itself (with them), so I’ve spoken to them a couple of times and they haven’t put much forward at this stage.
“We’ll just see where that goes in the next few days.
“In a perfect world, we said to Max we would like to retain him – but we understand right at this stage he’s behind Brodie Grundy and I think he has six years on his deal to go.”
Lynch’s trade call may help Mason Cox score a new contract, given Wright revealed there was minimal interest elsewhere in the American Pie and his future remained “up in the air”.
Lynch, 23, has played only three senior games since being one of the last footballers selected in the rookie draft five years ago, but has developed nicely at second-tier level.
He averaged 13 disposals, 32 hit-outs, three clearances and five score involvements in the VFL this year.
Assuming Ceglar departs and the Magpies and Hawks reach an agreement on Lynch, the 200cm big man will join captain Ben McEvoy and fivegame giant Ned Reeves as Hawthorn’s ruck options.
When McEvoy, 32, ends his stellar career it will leave a big hole in the ruck leadership.